Valve



Patented Fpb. I4,, I899.

F. W. KNUPP.

V A L V E.

(Application filed 18, 1898.\

NORRI PETERS co, Pucvoumm WASHINGTON, u. c.

No. 6I9,705'.

(No Model.)

Q/wllmeaao UNITED STATES PATENT ()rricn.

FRED W. KNUPP, OFFOSTORIA, OHIO.

VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,705, dated February14, 1599.

Application filed January 18, 1898. Serial No. 667,088- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED W. KNUPP, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fostoria, in the county of Seneca and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Valves; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

In oil and gas wells it frequently happens that the ball-valve is heldabove its seat by the accumulation of adhesive paraffin-wax on the saidseat and in the cage and by the continued pressure of the liquid or gaswhich has lifted it, so that the closing action of the said valve isimpeded. As the valve and the neighboring parts are far below thesurface of the earth and must be brought to the surface for cleansing,it becomes very important to provide some more practicable remedy. Tothis end I provide the ball-valve with a suitably-guided follower orthimble and a spring pressing the same on the ball to force the latterdown through all such accumulations and against all such upward movementof the gas or liquid, automatically seating the said ballvalve withperfect tightness as soon as the upward movement of the piston ceases.

The said invention therefore consists, mainly, in the combination of ahollow pumppiston and valve-cage attached thereto, with a ball-valveopening upwardly within the said piston, a concave follower fitting onthe said ball-valve, and a spring bearing on the said follower,substantially as set forth.

The said invention also consists in the combination, with the foregoingparts, of certain guiding devices and in certain details ofconstruction, hereinafter particularly set forth and claimed.

The said invention further consists in the especial construction andcombination of parts, hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Of course this improvement is not necessarily confined to wells or pipesof any particular kind, but may be used wherever convenient andavailable.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a longitudinal centralsection of a tubular casing and valve-seat,ball-valve cage, couplings,follower or thimble, and spring embodying my invention. Fig. 2represents a perspective view of the valve-cage and the follower, thelatter being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 3 represents a detailperspective View of the spring. Fig. 4represents a similar view of thefollower, and Fig. 5 of the ball. Fig. 6 represents a cross-section onthe line 6 6 of Fig. 1.

A designates a ball-valve of ordinary form, and B its seat, which has avalve-cage O and upper internally-screw-threaded coupling D casttherewith. E designates a tubular casing or short pipe-section havingthe said seat firmly secured on one end of it and provided with aninternally-screw-threaded couplingcollar F at the other. G designates afollower or thimble consist-ing of a plate made concave to fit on thesaid ball-valve and provided with guiding-fingers g, which extend upwardthrough the openings 0, that alternate with the bars of the said cage.These guidingfingers extend above the upper ends of the said openingsand overlap the closed upper end of the cage. A helicoidal spring Hbears at its upper end against the conoidal upper part of said casingand at its lower end against the convex top of the said follower orthimble, being inclosed within the series of guiding-fingers of the saidthimble and the bars of the said cage. These fingers by their contactwith the said bars and the solid part of the cage above them tend tohold the said follower from turning, rocking, or tilting as it moves upunder pressure of the gas or liquid from below against the ball ordownward under pressure of the said spring. They also aid in protectingthe said spring from any foreign body and keeping it accurately inposition.

The spring yields when the piston is forced down, so that the ball-valverises from its seat to permit the upward flow of the gas or liquid; butwhen the downward movement of the piston ends the force of the springssuffices to press the ball-valve back on its seat against any gaseous orliquid upward flow, which may not yet have ceased, and in spite of theresistance of any paraffin-wax that may be clogging the cage. Any suchwax will be forced out through the openings 0' or down into the casingor pipe-section E.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters in position with the bars thereof, and a springPatent, is arranged in the space inclosed by the said In combinationwith ahollow pump-piston fingers and bars and operating to close the anda cage attached thereto which is provided said valve substantially asset forth. 5 with vertical bars having openings between In testimonywhereof I affix my signature I 5 them, a ball-valve opening upwardwithin in presence of two witnesses.

the said cage, a follower bearing on said ball- FRED W. KN UPP. valveand provided with upwardly turned Witnesses: guide-fingers,'which extendoutward through J. M. BENER,

lo the openings of the said cage and alternate FRANK C. GAUDY.

